We’ve Done It Again: Creative Retail Workspace of the Year – Europe

We’re incredibly excited to share that YOLO has once again been named Creative Retail Workspace of the Year – Europe, winning the award for the second year in a row at the International Elite 100 Awards 2026. 🏆🏆

Winning this award is special. Winning it again is something we’re immensely proud of.

This recognition celebrates more than just how our office looks; it reflects how our people work, collaborate, and feel every day they walk through the door. It’s a testament to the belief that when you invest in your environment, you invest in your culture, creativity, and long-term success. That impact doesn’t stop with our team either, our workspace consistently receives praise from visitors, partners, and other businesses who walk in and instantly feel the difference.

At YOLO, being different isn’t something we switch on for show: it’s embedded in everything we do. Our workspace mirrors our approach across the business, from marketing and sales to customer experience and innovation. It creates an immediate impression for anyone who visits, showing who we are before a single conversation even begins. As our Managing Director, Dale, says:

“To win this award again is incredibly rewarding. It really highlights the return you get when you design your workspace differently and truly put your people first.”

From our perspective, winning for a second consecutive year is a powerful validation of our vision. It shows that what we’ve built isn’t a one-off idea: it’s a culture that continues to grow and evolve, both for our team and for the people we welcome into our space.

“This award is proof that creating a space people genuinely enjoy working in has a real impact,” says Scott Woodhead. “When your team feels inspired, trusted, and valued, it shows in everything they do, and when visitors experience that environment first hand, it leaves a lasting impression that goes far beyond the walls of the office.”

Our 2030 campus plans are focused on making YOLO the best place to work, and being recognised again tells us that we’re making meaningful progress. We understand that work is where we spend a third of our lives, so it’s important that it feels energising, inclusive, and human, not just functional.

That’s why we focus on far more than just the physical space. Yes, there’s a pool table, but it’s also about the experiences we create together. From spa days, team events, and days out, to our £10 gym membership that helps keep everyone active and feeling their best. We run regular grub clubs where team members cook for everyone, celebrate each other properly with birthday cards, gift cards, cake, and a full team sing-along, and make time for plenty of moments that simply bring people together. It genuinely feels like a second family, where people look out for one another, have fun, and feel appreciated every step of the way. And that sense of care and connection is something everyone feels the moment they walk through the door.

Winning Creative Retail Workspace of the Year for the second year running reinforces our commitment to investing in our people and the environment they work in every day. None of this would be possible without the incredible YOLO team, whose energy, creativity, and passion bring the space to life and make it a place others love to visit and talk about.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this journey so far. We’re excited about what’s ahead and proud to keep raising the bar together.

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